Magnetic header design

ABSTRACT

A vehicle arrangement is provided including a vehicle body having at least a partially open top and transverse window with a ferromagnetic frame, a flexible membrane sunscreen cover for at least a portion of the vehicle. A magnetic member connected with the sunscreen cover holds an end of the cover with the window frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sun shade or sun bikini top for aJeep-type or SUV-type vehicle. Typically such tops are stored under amore permanent softer hard top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many sport utility vehicles, especially Jeep-type vehicles, can have atop that can be removed to allow the occupant to enjoy the open air.Unfortunately, such exposure provides more exposure to the harshsunlight. To protect the car occupant from harsh sunlight, while at thesame time allowing the entry of fresh air, many vehicles have an airpenetrable flexible fabric top, often referred to as a bikini top.

It is a desire of the present invention to provide an attachmentarrangement and method for a bikini top for an automotive vehicle.Additionally, it is a desire of the present invention to take advantageof attachment hardware already provided in the vehicle for attachment ofmore permanent vehicle top enclosures.

It is a desire of the present invention to provide a bikini top for avehicle that is connected with the vehicle frame without the use ofbungee cords.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To make manifest the above delineated and other manifold positivedesires, a revelation of the present invention is brought forth. In apreferred embodiment the present invention provides a freedom of anapparatus and method of utilization thereof a sunshade open air top fora vehicle which spans a portion of the vehicle from a rear weatherprooftop portion of the vehicle to a windshield header of a vehicle. The topincludes a first portion connected to an area of the vehicle top behindthe front passenger compartment of a vehicle. A flexible fabric coverportion is provided for covering above the driver and side passengercompartment of a vehicle. The fabric cover portion has a forward edge. Amagnetic portion is provided at the fore end of the fabric cover portionto allow secure releasable attachment of the sunshade to the windshieldheader of the vehicle.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle arrangement according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a magnetic member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of an alternate embodiment magneticmember;

FIG. 6 is a view along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another alternate embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a vehicle arrangement 7 of the present inventionhas a Jeep-type sport utility and/or all terrain type vehicle 10 with apartially open top 12 with a transverse window 14. In the embodimentshown, the transverse window 14 provides a windshield header that isadjacent a front row passenger portion of the vehicle. The window 14 hasa ferromagnetic frame 16.

Over the rear seat in seating portion 22 of the vehicle is aweatherproof section top 42. A flexible fabric or mesh, preferablyair-permeable membrane or cover 24 provides sun shading of a front rowdriver and side passenger portion of the vehicle.

The cover 24 has a fabric portion 26. Connected with an end of thefabric portion 26 of the cover is a magnetic portion or member 28. (Forclarity of illustration in FIG. 1, the section of the flexible coverconnected to the magnetic member 28 is not shown). The magnetic memberremovably connects the fabric portion to the windshield of the vehicleand tensions the fabric portion 26. The magnetic member 28 has a magnet29 that can be a singular member or can be comprised of multiplediscrete magnetic members 30 as shown in FIG. 5. The magnet portion maybe fabricated by a metallic material or include the whole or partial useof a magnetic polymer such as PANiCNQ (a combination of emeraldine-basedpolyaniline (PANi) and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ)). In theembodiment shown in FIG. 4, magnetic member portion 28 is encapsulatedin a polymeric cover 36. The cover 36 can be a singular material or acombination of materials. The encapsulating material of the polymericcover 36 may be used to join a plurality of magnetic members 30 into arigid structural member. The encapsulating material 36 of the polymericcover can also be selected to aid in sealing the interface between themagnetic member and the frame 16 of the window 14. The encapsulationmaterial can also include portions of the afore described magneticpolymers or such magnetic polymers with a more compliant outer polymercover layer to enhance sealing.

Attached to the frame surrounding the window 14 can be a latch plate 40.The latch plate can be utilized for connecting a permanent or rigidcover over the front portion of the vehicle. The rigid cover may be aremovable cover like cover section 42, that can be stored in the rear ofthe vehicle or may be as shown a pivotal cover 44. The latch plate has aconnection portion 46 to connect to the frame directly or indirectly.The latch plate may have a connection portion 48 for connection with atop and rigid cover. To release the cover 24, a vehicle operator canjust displace the magnetic member 28 from the window frame. As wellknown to those skilled in the art, the cover 24 may have openings (notshown) for the connecting hardware of the cover 44 to connect with thelatch plate.

As shown in FIG. 10, a magnetic member 28 has an encapsulated tail 51.An inclined portion 53 of the latch plate acts as a stop for themagnetic member 28 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. In anotherembodiment (not shown), the inclined portion is formed in almost a 90°angle with respect to connection portion 46, allowing the inclinedportion to act as a longitudinal stop for the magnetic member 28 withoutthe need for the tail 51. In still another embodiment shown in FIG. 9, amagnetic member 61 has a male member 63 engaged into female depression65 of a longitudinal frame 131. The male/female engagement provides astop for the magnetic member 61 in both longitudinal and transversedirections. In another embodiment (not shown), the male/female portionsof the engagement between the magnetic member and the frame arereversed. The male/female engagement can be utilized on the front windowframe with the pivotal cover 44 (not shown). In FIG. 10, the magneticmember has an encapsulation header 71 that serves as an air or rainshield.

In FIG. 7, a magnetic member 128 has a rearward extension 129 that islaterally stopped by spaced-apart latch plates 40. The elongated portionof the magnetic member 128 has horizontal magnetic attractive interfacewith the windshield. The rearward extension has vertical magneticattractive interface with the latch plates 40. A longitudinal windowframe 131 has a series of female depressions 65 to allow for multiplefore and aft positions of the fabric portion of the cover (FIG. 8).

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sunshade for a vehicle top, said vehicle topspans a portion of the vehicle from a rear weatherproof top portion to afront portion with an opening over a front passenger compartment, saidopening extending to a windshield header of the vehicle, the sunshadecomprising: an air penetrable flexible membrane cover portion forcovering above the opening over the front passenger compartment of thevehicle, said membrane cover portion having a forward edge; and at leastone magnetic portion at the forward edge of the membrane cover portionfor providing secure releasable attachment of the sunshade to thewindshield header of the vehicle said magnetic portion being supportedin an elongated transverse rigid structural member, said magneticportion having a spherical male/female magnetic force interfaceengagement with said windshield header.
 2. The sunshade of claim 1further comprising said windshield header having a longitudinallyextending latch plate wherein said magnetic portion is configured toengage said latch plate.
 3. The sunshade of claim 1 wherein saidmembrane cover portion is a mesh-like material.
 4. The sunshade of claim2 wherein said magnetic portion includes a first portion for connectingand engaging said windshield header substantially vertically along saidspherical male/female interface and a second portion for horizontallyengaging said latch plate along a vertical interface.
 5. The sunshade ofclaim 1 wherein said magnetic portion is at least partially fabricatedwith a magnetic polymer.
 6. A vehicle arrangement comprising: a vehiclebody with a front transverse window with a ferromagnetic frame headerand a front passenger compartment; a top with a rear weatherproofportion and a front portion with an opening over the front passengercompartment, said opening extending to the windshield header of thevehicle an air penetrable flexible membrane cover portion for coveringabove the opening over the front passenger compartment of the vehicle,said membrane cover portion having a forward edge; and at least onemagnetic portion at the forward edge of the membrane cover portion forproviding secure releasable attachment of the sunshade to the windshieldheader of the vehicle said magnetic portion being supported in anelongated transverse rigid structural member, said magnetic portionhaving a spherical male/female magnetic force interface engagement withsaid windshield header.
 7. A vehicle arrangement as described in claim,6 wherein said magnetic portion tensions said flexible member.
 8. Avehicle arrangement as described in claim 6, wherein the arrangement hasa latch plate fixed with respect to said frame for a rigid top and thelatch plate acts as a stop for said magnetic portion in the longitudinaldirection.
 9. A vehicle arrangement as described in claim 8, wherein aninterface between the magnetic portion and said latch plate acts as astop in a transverse vehicle direction.
 10. A vehicle arrangement asdescribed in claim 9 with a plurality of latch plates acting as stops ina transverse vehicle direction.
 11. A vehicle arrangement as describedin claim 6, wherein said magnetic portion has a plurality of discretemagnets.
 12. A vehicle arrangement as described in claim 6, wherein saidmagnetic portion has a magnet embedded in a non-magnetic material.
 13. Avehicle arrangement as described in claim 6, wherein magnetic member isconnected with a sealing material to seal an interface between saidmagnetic portion and said window frame.
 14. A vehicle arrangement asdescribed in claim 6, wherein said magnetic portion can be movedlongitudinally on the vehicle to a plurality of positions.
 15. A vehiclearrangement as described in claim 6, wherein the vehicle is a sportutility-type vehicle.